Burglar alarm switch



Feb. 23, 1937. H. JACKSON El AL 2,071,343

BURGLAR ALARM SWITCH Original Filed July 2, 1934 A9 IL Harry Ja a .9027

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ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BURGLAR ALARM SWITCH Original application July 2, 1934, Serial No.

733,492, now Patent 2,

038,491. Divided and this application May 7, 1935, Serial No. 20,293

1 Claim.

The invention relates to burglar alarm switches and more especially to a safety device for use in banks or the like, being a division of the subject matter of the application for patent filed July 2, 1934, Serial No. 733,492 now Patent 2,038,491.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an appliance or device of this character, wherein through the use of a depressible platform and a signalling system or trap, when a person bearing suspicion of the attempt of theft or holdup within a bank or the like treads upon the platform a warning will be had or the person upon the platform can be trapped, the appliance or device being of novel construction and automatic either for signalling purposes or trap action.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an appliance or device of this character, which is comparatively simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and efiicient in its purposes, readily and easily mountable in position for use, strong, durable, concealed from view, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the appliance or device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing diagrammatically the electric system for visible or audible signalling purposes.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing,

Referring to the drawing in detail, the appliance or device comprises a depressible platform III, preferably of square contour, although it may be of any other shape and of a size for its service within a bank or like institution. The platform II] is set within a clearance or opening I I provided with the floor I2, preferably at the point of location of an exchange window or cage or other enclosure within the said bank or institution. This clearance or opening I I in the floor I2 has fixedly arranged therein a curbing I3, while within this curbing and spaced the required distance therefrom is a stationary frame I4, supported by a sill I5 disposed crosswise thereto and fixed in any desirable manner with the curbing I3. The platform has at its underside a guiding flange I6 which slidably fits between the curbing I3 and the frame I4. Journaled in the frame I4 to opposite sides of the center thereof are horizontally disposed rocking shafts Il, these being supported in bearings I3 of appropriate kind.

The frame I4 has arranged therein suitable brace studding I9, these being in crossed relation to each other, while fixed inwardly with relation to said studding I9 at opposite sides of the frame I4 are hangers 20 pivotally supporting, as at 2|, vertical rocking members 22, these being played upon by depending strikers 23 fitted to the undersides of the platform I0. The platform I0 is normally raised by coiled compression springs 24, these being suitably seated between the hangers 20 and the said platform, so that the latter in its normal position will have its top face flush with the surface of the floor I2 and the strikers 23 inactive upon the members 22, which are for a purpose presently described.

Mounted on the shafts II are presser arms 25 and also these shafts carry beneath said hangers 20 and arms 25 downwardly curved or arched saddle pieces 26 against which work the members 22, so that on the rocking of the latter they will operate upon the saddles 26 for the turning of the shafts II to swing the presser arms 25 to an active position.

Upon suitable supports 2! are arranged normally open switches 28, these being included in an electric audible or visible signalling system 29 operated on the closing of said switches, which latter are closed by the presser arms 25 acting against the movable contacts 30 of the respective switches 28 when the platform III has been depressed or lowered in the clearance or opening II in the floor I2, as should be apparent.

The hangers 20 support spring mounted Wipers 3|, each engageable with an adjustable sweeper 32 carried by its respective shaft I'I, so that by friction the shaft can be retained in its turned position, this being apparent from Figure 2 of the drawing. The arms 25 when in position for closing the switches 28 will retain this condition notwithstanding the fact that the springs 24 will have lifted the platform III to normal position or raised flush with the floor I2 and thus assuring a continuance of the signal by the system 29. Supported within the frame I4 by a base piece 33 is a stop 34 for the arms 25 to limit the receding movement thereof from the switches 28. These arms 25 are moved away from the switches 28 by the lift rods 35 which are vertically slidable through the platform iii and are provided with hand grips 36 which are retained in depressions 31 in the upper face of the platform by springs 38 surrounding said rods 35.

The rods 35 have the engaging prongs 39 for the arms 25 and when such arms are in lowered position for the closing of the switches 2c the prongs 39 can be brought into engagement with said arms and on an upward pull upon the rods 35 these arms 25 will be lifted or caused to recede from the said switches 28 and thus be brought to normalcy, whereupon the system 2d will be opened and the signaling stopped.

The platform it] may be latched in normal elevated position to prevent the depressing thereof by persons innocent of crime and theft and such platform released at the option of the attendant within the bank or like institution.

What is claimed is:

A protective appliance for use in banks or the like and in which the floor of the bank is pro vided with a cut-away portion or clearance, comprising a platform fitted for movement in said clearance and spring influenced to normally arrange the outer face of the same flush with the floor, guide means for directing the movement of the platform in the clearance, means limiting the downward movement of the platform through said clearance, rocker arms below the platform, means depending from the platform contacting with the rocker arms for normally holding the same in one position, rocker shafts journaled below the platform, elements fixed thereto and engaged by the rocker arms for turning the shafts when the platform is lowered, an adjustable sweeper element on each of the shafts, a spring influenced wiper arm, the rocker arms being moved by the wiper arm into contact with the sweeper element when the platform is lowered and the rocker shafts turned, in combination with means operative from the outer face of the platform for holding such switches in open position.

HARRY JACKSON. MARY E. JACKSON. 

